A symbol of Britain seizing back power from the EU has been branded a "national humiliation" as the new blue passports will reportedly be made by a Dutch firm.

After a blind tender process Global security firm Gemalto landed the £490million contract to produce the UK's post-Brexit identity documents from next year.

There are now fears hundreds of jobs could be under threat at De La Rue, which produced its first passport for the UK Government in 1915.

The company, listed on the Paris and Amsterdam stock exchanges with headquarters in Amsterdam, was battling for the lucrative passport deal with British firm De La Rue and an unnamed outfit, according to The Sun .

Under the process, ministers were not allowed to know who had submitted the individual bids.

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“I would urge Amber Rudd and the Government to look again at the powers they have to see what they can do.”

Civil service procurement rules mean the government is not able to exclude other EU nations from bidding.

The Home Office insisted the passport contract is being tendered 'fairly'.

A spokeswoman said: "We are running a fair and open competition to ensure that the new contract delivers a high quality and secure product and offers the best value for money for customers.

"All passports will continue to be personalised with the holder’s details in the United Kingdom, meaning that no personal data will leave the UK.

“We do not require passports to be manufactured in the UK. A proportion of blank passport books are currently manufactured overseas, and there are no security or operational reasons why this would not continue.”